Advanced technology and its impact on the clinical laboratory

The analytical capabilities of the clinical laboratory have continued to expand and improve as a result of technical developments and advancements made in a wide spectrum of allied disciplines. As a consequence, the clinical laboratory has evolved from the small, manual operations of yesterday to the large, central organizations of today. Technology continues to have an impact on the laboratory, especially with the advent of the fully automated analytical systems that are having such a profound effect on how the laboratory is staffed, equipped, organized, and operated. With the accelerating rate at which new developments are occurring, it is safe to assume that dramatic changes will continue to occur in this area. Consequently, it will become increasingly important for clinical laboratorians to be aware of these new developments, to understand them, and to anticipate how they will be assimilated and integrated into the overall health care system. To quote from a recent Bell Atlantic advertisement, "The genius of the future lies not in technology alone, but in the ability to manage it."